Get a fire sprinkler permit

What you need to know before you apply

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  Who can apply for the permit

  To apply for fire sprinkler permit you must have a valid City of Vancouver or inter-municipal business licence and be a:

  • Licensed fire sprinkler contractor, OR
  • Fire protection engineer

  Get a business licence

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  When a fire sprinkler permit can be issued

  A fire sprinkler permit can only be issued after:

  • A building permit has been issued
  • A licensed fire sprinkler contractor has been named

  Apply for a building permit

  Important note Any sprinkler system installed or altered without a permit will result in a Stop Work Order, fine, and/or requirement to reinstall work with an issued permit.   

Steps to getting a fire sprinkler permit

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  Step 1: Review what is a simple or complex project

  There are two different types of projects: simple and complex. Each one has different characteristics and requirements. Review each to make sure you apply for the correct project types. 

  Important note Depending on the complexity of your design, your simple application may require minimal review and will usually be issued within a few days of us receiving a complete application. More complex applications may require a detailed review by the Building Review Branch. 

  Project types

  Simple projects that may be issued with minimal review

  • New sprinkler systems in one- and two-family houses
  • Return an existing system to a base building or shell configuration where the space will not be occupied or used for storage without additional permits (Important note Contact us to discuss prior to making application as these vary case by case.)
  • Replace existing sprinkler heads with new ones of the same make, model, and orifice per NFPA 25, with no relocation of heads
  • No complex design characteristics  

  Complex projects that will trigger a detailed review

  • New sprinkler system for any:
    • Commercial (non-residential) building
    • Residential site with more than two dwelling units in any building (ancillary buildings will be included in the detailed review)
  • Applications designed to NFPA 13
  • Added and/or relocated more than 20 sprinkler heads 
  • Changes to:
    • Hydraulic calculations
    • Occupancy or hazard classification as defined by NFPA
    • Sprinkler system supply piping (valves, mains, cross-mains, branch lines)
  • Warehouse storage (racking, pallets) or mobile compact storage, including changes to commodities
  • New alternative solutions or modifications to previously-accepted alternative solutions
  • New or altered water curtains
  • Addition or alteration of flexible sprinkler drops
  • Addition of:
    • Backflow preventers 
    • Sprinklers for new floor area (for example building additions, mezzanines)
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  Step 2: Complete required documents and drawings 

  Important note All documents and drawings must be submitted at the time of your application. Review the list to make sure you have the necessary items completed and included with your application. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will result in a delay in processing your application.

  Documents required for project types

  Simple applications with minimal review

  • Owner’s information certificate PDF file (505 KB) (required for all applications except laneway homes and one- and two-family dwellings)
  • Sprinkler system drawings showing head locations, make, and model
  • For “return to shell” applications:
    • Schedule B from the fire protection engineer of record and key plan showing the area of work 
  • For sprinkler head replacement applications:
    • Signed and sealed letter from the fire protection engineer of record describing the work and including a description of the existing and new heads as outlined in NFPA 25

  Complex applications with detailed review

  • Owner’s information certificate PDF file (505 KB)
  • Signed and sealed sprinkler system shop drawings, complete, where applicable, with:
    • Architect’s shop drawing review stamp
    • Alternative solution author’s shop drawing review stamp
    • Certified professional’s stamp
  • Hydraulic calculations or justification that hydraulic calculations are not necessary
  • Schedule B PDF file (606 KB)
  • Current City water supply information for your specific site (dated no more than one year prior to application)
    •  Submit your request  to water.pressure@vancouver.ca

  Important note Refer to NFPA 13, Chapter 23 for a comprehensive list of information expected to be shown on sprinkler system shop drawings.

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  Step 3: Submit application and pay fees

  Important note Make sure you have all required documents and drawings compiled electronically including all required professional stamps, seals, and signatures.  Verify a visible stamp or seal External website, opens in new tab

  Review the schedule of fees and permits PDF file (954 KB)

  Submission process

  1. Log into your online account (Important note If you don’t have an account, you will need to create an account before you can submit your application.)
  2. Select “Sprinkler Permit” from the list 
  3. Complete required fields
  4. Upload all your required documents and drawings BEFORE you submit
  5. Pay fees by credit card
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  Step 4: Application reviewed and processed

  We review new applications and resubmissions as quickly as we can; generally, in the order they are received.

  Some applications may require additional information from you. Make sure you read and respond completely to all comments to make sure your permit is issued as soon as possible.

  Important note A sprinkler permit can only be issued after the related building permit is issued and in many cases, may not be reviewed prior to building permit being issued.  

  Review process

  1. We will review your submission.
  2. If your application is incomplete, we will contact you for more information 
  3. Once your application is complete, we will determine whether it is a simple application that can be issued with minimal review within a few days or if it is complex and requires a detailed review. Important note A detailed review may take several weeks.
  4. Following the detailed review, we may contact you with drawing or design items that must be resolved before the permit can be issued.
  5. Once all items in the application are resolved, we will issue the permit to you electronically.
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  Step 5: Begin work and complete inspections

  Once you receive your permit by email, you may begin work to install your fire sprinkler(s).

  Important note A copy of the issued drawings (with the City’s acceptance stamp) must be printed and available on site during construction.

  Book inspection after sprinkler installed

  Important note We must inspect any sprinkler installed in Vancouver.

  Book an inspection

Avoid a delay in getting your permit

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  Tips for a successful application

  Important note Incomplete applications are the most common reason for delays in issuing your sprinkler permit. Before you submit your application, make sure it is complete and coordinated. This will help make sure your application is processed quickly. 

  Most common coordination issues that we see with applications

  Important note We will send back your application for correction before we can do a full review.

  Issue with application	What you can do
  Design does not comply with all applicable regulations	Fire protection design in Vancouver must comply with the Vancouver Building By-law, the Vancouver Fire By-law, and all referenced standards. Our by-laws often supersede the referenced standards – make sure that your design meets both.
  Inconsistent drawings and documents	Make sure that your drawings and supporting documents are coordinated and consistent. Important note Information on the hydraulic calculations and Owner’s information certificate PDF file (505 KB) must match the submitted permit drawings.
  Application is inconsistent with building permit	The sprinkler permit drawings, project area, scope of work, and design standard must be consistent with the related building permit. Check to make sure that the sprinkler drawing backgrounds are the same as the latest submitted or issued building permit drawings. If they have been updated, then a building permit amendment may be required.   Confirm that the: Description of the use of the space matches the building permit (for example major occupancy, design hazard classification, and combustible content description) Sprinkler design standard indicated on the building permit drawings or description matches the sprinkler permit submission
  Mitigating features are not incorporated	Make sure that any sprinkler-related mitigating features accepted through alternative solution are incorporated into the sprinkler design and shown on the sprinkler drawings. Be sure to reference the alternative solution number on the drawings to assist with coordination.
  Fire protection engineer is not included in correspondence	The fire protection engineer of record must be the primary point of contact for technical correspondence. The applicant  must keep the rest of the design team (including the contractor, sprinkler designer, engineer of record, coordinating registered professional, and Certified Professional, if applicable) up to date on all communication received from the City to avoid misunderstandings and multiple rounds of review.
  Architect shop drawing review stamp is missing	All sprinkler drawings for projects that require the services of an architect must show the architect’s shop drawing review stamp (but not the architect’s professional seal) to indicate the scope and background are consistent with the building permit.
  Certified Professional stamp is missing	All drawings and documents for projects administered under the Certified Professional program must have the Certified Professional’s stamp (but not their professional seal) to indicate that they are part of the CP program and to confirm that the CP has reviewed them for consistency with the building permit.
  Stamps are not original	The fire protection engineer’s professional seal and the Certified Professional’s stamp on drawings and documents must be original. For : Hard copies this means “wet-ink” stamps and hand signatures Digital copies this means encryption as required by AIBC and EGBC Changes to digital files after professional seals and stamps have been applied invalidates them. Important note We are unable to accept or review applications without original seals and signatures.  (Review information about electronic permit applications for more information and technical support and verify documents External website, opens in new tab before submitting them to us Important note The architect’s shop drawing review stamp doesn't need to be encrypted when applied digitally.
  Not addressing all review comments	When resubmitting drawings or documents in response to review comments: Provide a summary of how each comment was addressed Show all changes on the drawings ("cloud”)  so we can quickly identify the new information

   

Change or withdraw your permit

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  Change an issued permit

  We understand that things change and you may need to make changes to the scope of your permit after it has been issued.

  To request a change to an issued permit:

  1. Log into your online account
  2. Select the permit you want to change
  3. Select “Amend Application” 
  4. Provide a detailed description of the amendment request and upload any supporting documents and amended drawings 

  Important note We will review your request and provide feedback.

  Important note Amendments are reviewed in the order that they’re received and are subject to additional fees.

  Important note Amendments require a detailed review if the original permit was considered 'complex' or if the amendment introduces complex design characteristics.

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  Withdraw permit application 

  We understand that things change and there are times when you need to withdraw a permit. Contact us to withdraw your permit and request an application refund.

  Important note There is an $85 administration fee required to process refund requests.

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